The end of April and the beginning of May are a special time for ichthyologists of the Sakhalin branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Glavrybvod." Year after year, it was on these spring days that they went on expeditions, opening the season of great work. Today,  following this long-term tradition and in tribute to the memory of the path traveled, we want to talk about the long-term work of the Sakhalin branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Glavrybvod" on the study and artificial reproduction of the Sakhalin taimen - a unique "river giant," whose status in the Red Book has become for us not just a reference, but a call to action.

 We didn't just study the species - we were literally restoring the population of the Lake Tunaicha basin. We have chosen the only method that has proven its effectiveness on a global scale - systemic artificial reproduction.

 All the important things you need to know about this project:

The path is half a century long: The first technologies for breeding the Sakhalin taimen began to be developed back in the 1970s. We relied on the experience of generations of scientists and modern world standards so that each egg turns into a strong fish. But it is worth noting that if in the last century the taimen breeding experiments were one-time, then for our branch this became a clear annual strategy. Every season, regardless of the weather, our ichthyologists went "into the field" for the careful capture of producers. This is a complex process that requires extreme endurance and professionalism.

Uniqueness in each river: Geneticists have confirmed: taimen populations in different rivers are isolated. Having lost one river, we forever lose part of the unique gene pool. That is why we worked pointwise, focusing on the most important area - the basin of Lake Tunaicha, additionally on the Moguchi River.

 Technologies of "humane science": We used a lifetime method of obtaining sexual products: after examination, adults immediately returned to their native element. To eliminate stress and injury, natural clove oil was used to gently "euthanize" fish.

VIP transportation: Growing juveniles were delivered to the release sites in special containers with an oxygenation system. We released them in small flocks, picking up sections of rivers that were as suitable as possible for their independent life.

Results in numbers:

Over 15 years of work (2011-2025), 174 mature individuals of the Sakhalin taimen were carefully caught: which, after taking sexual products in a lifetime way, were released into their natural habitat into the places of capture.

 Thanks to this, about 104 thousand resilient yearlings (weighing 4-10 g) were released into the natural environment:

 102,000 fry replenished the Lake Tunaicha basin;

2,000 fry settled the Moguchi River.

 Strength in unity:

This mission would not have been possible without our powerful coalition: Rosprirodnadzor, VNIRO and veterinary services. Each action is confirmed by science and law. This is modern fish farming - a union of high technology, law and sincere love for nature.

 You know, you feel a little nostalgia now. It seems that only yesterday we discussed the first plans and argued over the details. It was really cool to live every stage: from the first difficulties to the moments of release of juveniles. Now we look at the result and understand that it was a great time and a very "characteristic" project, which we will definitely remember with warmth and be proud of every tail that has gone into the depths of Sakhalin waters.

 Thank you to everyone who was part of this journey.